Machine for joining knitted fabrics



Jan. 28, 1964 N. MAYER MACHINE FOR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS 9Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 Nm NS INVENTOR. VA THA /V MA YER.

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MACHINE FOR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Oct. 2, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 2Q Q N \l INVENTOR. A/A 7W4 N MA YER,

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MACHINE FOR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Oct. 2, 1961 I SSheetS-Sheet sINVENTOR. Alr/m/v M4 YE? BY Adi d 4770MEY$ Jan. 28, 1964 NY. MAYERMACHINE FOR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Oct. 2, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 4Jan. 28, 1964 MAYER 3,119,360

MACHINE FOR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS Filed 001;. 2, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. 4442774 M4 r52 Jan. 28, 1964 N. MAYER 3,119,360

MACHINE FOR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Oct. 2, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTOR. Alan/4N M4 r52 Jan. 28, 1964 N. MAYER MACHINE FOR JOININGKNITTED FABRICS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 1N VENTOR Ahr/m/v MAr52 Jan. 28, 1964 N. MAYER 3,119,360

MACHINE FOR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Oct. 2, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTOR. A/AI'HAA/ 4%0 52 BY MAW Jan. 28, 1964 MAYER 3,119,360

MACHINE FUR JOINING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Oct. 2, 1961 9 Sheets-Sheet 9INVENTOR. fl AT'HAA/ 4/4 YE/e BY Amt/13% United States Patent MACHKNEFOR JGllNlNG KNHTTED FABRICS Nathan Mayer, 5 Spring Road, Yonkers, N.Y.Fiied Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,255 6 (Claims. ((11. 112-25) Thepresent invention relates generally to the joinder of circular knittedfabrics, and in particular to an improved method and means for hingedlyinterconnecting superposed marginal portions of a knitted fabric. Myinvention finds particularly useful application in the manufacture ofseamless stockings of circular knit fabric. This is acontinuation-in-part of application Serial No. 82,891, filed January 16,1961.

As is generally understood, seamless stockings and similar knittedfabrics in tubular form are manufactured on a circular knitting machinehaving a relatively large number of needles arranged about thecircumference of the machine head. The resulting elemental tubularstocking includes many hundreds of circumferential courses of loops,with the loops being chained together longitudinally of the stockingalong successive circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extendingwales. The seamless stocking is then completed by closing the toeopening at one end of the stocking.

In order to close the toe opening, it is the practice to employ alooping machine of the type including a rotary dial or disc having aseries of radially-projecting points about the periphery thereof ontowhich the rawedged superposed marginal portions of the partiallycompleted stocking about the toe opening are impaled for joinder. As thedial or disc is rotated, the superposed marginal portions impaled uponthe points are carried to stitching mechanisms which are adapted to forma looping chain through the impaled loops of the stockings. Themechanisms which form the looping chain include a needle carrying aneedle thread which cooperates with each successive point and a loopercarrying a looper thread which steps through the needle thread andreturns to the rear thereof such that the needle and looper threads arechained together to form the looping chain. Further means are providedin advance of the stitching mechanisms to cut off the excess materialabove the loops impaled on the points along the looping course whichexcess material is in the form of a number of selvage courses. Means mayalso be provided to remove the cut loops contiguous to the looping line.

In the use of this type of looping machine a relatively highly skilledoperator is employed to place a single line of loops along a loopingcourse or impaling line on the points of the dial such that each loopalong the looping line is impaled on a single point, with successiveloops being impaled on successive points in precise order so that noneare missed and such that each point is covered by a loop. The impalingoperation is continued so that each loop together with its mating loopon the overlying marginal portion is properly impaled over a singlepoint in precise order. For example, if a stocking has four hundredloops along the looping course and about the circumterence thereof, itis necessary for the operator to impale two hundred pairs of loops onthe points, no more, no less, without missing a point. This rathertedious, time consuming and precise operation is somewhat facilitated bythe knitting of a looping line into the stocking. The looping line orcourse is recognized in that it is com posed of slightly larger loopswhich are formed by decreasing the interstices between adjacent loopssuch as to make the looping course or lines visible. Such looping lineor course is provided approximately 12 to 15 courses before the end ofthe nylon fabric, with a number of lines or courses of cotton beingprovided thereafter such that the operator may handle the stocking withcomparative 3,119,360 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 case. It should beappreciated however that these courses outwardly of the looping linerepresent selvage and are ultimately removed. Needless to say a highorder of accuracy and care is required in the impaling of the loops onthe points. The process is inherently an expensive one in that itrequires substantial time to train a looper and the employment turnoveris often high due to eye fatigue and the necessity of using women withincident losses due to pregnancy, marriage and the like. The verycritical nature of the work will be appreciated in that a loop which isnot properly impaled upon a point along a prescribed Wale of thestocking will ultimately represent a source of a run, unless correctivesteps are taken in subsequent processing of the stocking to preclude theoccurrence of such run.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide an improvedmachine for looping contiguous edges of knitted fabrics, such as theedges of a toe opening of a seamless stocking, which obviates one ormore of the aforesaid difiiculties.

It has been suggested that it may be possible to join together thesuperposed or doubled half-edge portions of a toe opening of a stockingwithout strict regard as to the seriatim impalement of loops on pointsalong a prescribed looping course, and yet be able to provide a usefuljoinder. To this end, the prior art teaches the joinder of the halfedgedportions of the toe opening of the stocking by an auxiliary yarn whichis stitched through the half-edged portions of the toe opening outwardlyof and along the circumferential or transverse course which is impaledupon the points. The auxiliary thread stitched through the selvagescourse between the points and the rough edge of the superposed marginscooperates with the looping chain normally formed along the line ofimpaled loops to join together the superposed portions about the toeopening. Since such auxiliary thread occupies a number of coursesoutwardly of the looping or impaling line, which courses heretofore havebeen removed in that they represent selvage, it is no longer possible toremove those selvage courses through which the auxiliary thread passeswithout also removing the auxiliary thread. Normally the looping chainshould join together superposed and registering loops along the loopingline, with all material outwardly thereof removed, such that when thelooping chain effectively serves as an unobstructed hinge, the optimumcondition is that the fabric even along the line of joinder, shouldassume the character of a single knitted fabric wherein adjacent loopsare joined together in a neat and precise manner, with virtually no bulkto interfere with the hinging action. Since in this prior artarrangement, the auxiliary thread occupies one or more selvage coursesoutwardly of the line of impalement, it is not possible to remove all ofsuch selvage courses outwardly of the ultimate line of joinder and thereresults a somewhat bulky rolled seam. Even if the bulk of the rolledseam and its general unclean or fuzzy appearance due to entrapped cutthreads rolled therein were not of themselves suflicient to precludewidespread commercial acceptance of this method of looping, there isstill a fur ther and perhaps more serious drawback in this prior artproposal. Specifically, the placement of the auxiliary thread along oneor more selvage courses outwardly of the looping line does noteffectively preclude the occurrence of runs. The location of theauxiliary thread does not preclude the possibility of a missed looprunning along a particular Wale of the stocking. Even though thepossibility of running is somewhat reduced by the rolling in of missedloops along the line of joinder, this attempt at entrapment still doesnot give this proposal the necessary positive assurance for commercialacceptance.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an. improvedjoinder apparatus for the superposed marginal portions of a knittedfabric which minimizes the possibility of runs incident to the less thanperfect engagement of fabric loops on the points of a looping machine.Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention toprovide an improved means of joining margins of a toe opening in aseamless stocking which reduces the need of a high order of skill on thepart of the operator, enables the manufacture of the joinder withoutperfeet point by point engagement of fabric loops on points, virtuallyeliminates the possibility of a missed loop representing a source of arun, and substantially reduces the tedium incident to impaling the loopsupon the points.

I have found that a barrier thread may be placed along a barrier courseinwardly of the looping chain which joins the superposed marginalportions of the knitted fabric together. The barrier thread is picked upand locked into the looping chain and is located such that if reasonablecare is exercised in impaling the loops on the points, a substantiallyrun-free joinder is provided between the superposed marginal portions.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects andfeatures of the present invention, there is provided a looping machinefor hosiery of the type having superposed looping courses which arehingedly interconnected. The machine includes a rotary dial havingradially extending and circumferentially disposed dial points over whichsaid looping courses are adapted to be impaled manually. The rotary dialis mounted for rotary movement about a vertically extending dial axis.At a first circumferential location, means are provided for cutting theselvage of said hosiery above said looping course which is impaled onsaid dial points. A drive rotates said dial and operates the cuttingmeans at said first location. The improvement in accordance with thisinvention comprises stitching mechanisms in advance of said firstcircumferential location for introducing a barrier thread along at leastsaid superposed looping courses. Said stitching mechanisms include aneedle having a stem and a curved body terminating in a needle point andmeans operatively connected to said stem and mounting said needle bodyfor rocking movement about a needle-rocking aids to advance said needlepoint along a penetrating stroke disposed in relation to successive dialpoints to advance said barrier thread through said hosiery and into apickup position outwardly thereof. A thread lifter is provided which hasa lifter stem and a lifter body and means are operatively connected tosaid lifter stem and mount said lifter body for rocking movement about alifter-rocking axis extending angularly of said needle rocking axis toadvance said lifter body inwardly toward and between successive dialpoints. The lifter body engages said barrier thread in said pick-upposition for impaling said barrier thread over said dial points.Respective actuating means are controlled from said drive for rockingsaid needle and said thread lifter in timed relation to each other andto the rotation of said dial.

The above brief description, as well as further objects and advantagesof the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference tothe following detailed description of presently preferred, but none theless illustrative apparatus in accordance with the present invention,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a small segment of the disc or dialof a typical looping machine having superposed marginal portions of acircularknitted fabric impaled on the points thereof;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic showing of a typical knitted fabric as it mightbe impaled along the looping course or line on the points of the disc ordial of the looping machine, with the path of the barrier thread beingillustrated about a number of successive points;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the two superposedmarginal portions of a knitted fabric joined together in accordance withapparatus aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a looping machine modified to include abarrier-stitching mechanism or station for introducing a barrier threadin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the looping machine shown in FIG. 4,with parts broken away;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view, with parts omitted in the interest ofclarity, of the looping machine showing in particular the details of thestitching mechanisms or station;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the circumferential locationof the looping machine at which the barrier-stitching mechanisms orstation is located;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantiallyalong the line S8 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the relationship of thedial points, the needle having the barrier thread, and the thread lifterat the beginning of a barrier-forming cycle;

FIG. 10 is a perspective View similar to FIG. 9, but showing the needlesubstantially at its fully penetrated position and illustrating thepick-up of the barrier thread by the thread lifter;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the needleat the start of its return or back stroke and the thread lifter inposition to drop off the barrier thread onto several adjacent dialpoints;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 11 showing rhe barrierthread after engagement onto the dial points after drop-off by thethread lifter, with the needle being shown in its return or back stroke;and,

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view further showing therelationship between the needle, the thread guide, the dial points, andthe thread lifter.

Preliminary to a detailed description of the apparatus aspects of thepresent invention, it may be best to describe the construction of atypical piece of tubular or circular knitted fabric and the generaloperation of the looping machine as improved in accordance with thepresent invention. For the sake of convenience, one superposed marginalportion S of the fabric S is removed lin FIG. 2, leaving only themarginal portion S which includes plural transversely orcircumferentially extending courses of loops, four typical courses beingdesignated by the reference numerals 16, 18, 20 and 22. Thesecircumferential courses of loops are linked together lengthwise of thecircular or tubular knit fabric by longitudinally-extending wales, fourtypical wales being generally designated by the reference numerals 24-,26, 28, 30. Each of the wales includes longitudinally aligned loops ofsuccessive courses chained together along the length of the tubularfabric. It should be appreciated that there are many hundreds of loopsabout any one circumferential course and many thousands of loops alongthe wales of the tubular knitted fabric. Each loop (i.e. loop 16a alongcourse 16) includes opposed legs interconnected by a bight and isconnected to the next adjacent loop (i.e. loop 161 along course 16) toprovide an interstice between the loops 16c and 16]. Of course the loopsare chained together longitudinally (i.e. loop 16e being chained throughthe adjacent loop 18a of course 18). Upon trimming the fabric (i.e. asrepresented by the cutting line L) for example incident to closing thetoe opening of the seamless stocking S, the loops along the wales willbe free to run unless positive provision is made to precludedisengagement of successive loops along a wale. This is accomplished byappropriately finishing the marginal edges to confine the loops againstrunning through the provision of a joinder in the form of a loopingchain which results in an articulated interconnection between the loopsalong such marginal edges. For the sake of convenience, thecircumferential courses of loops 16, 18 will be considered to berepresentative of the approximately five or more selvage courses whichare to be removed before the linking together by the looping course 2i).Such looping course will be identifiable in an actual stocking in thatit includes loops that are somewhat larger than the loops of othercourses. The looping course is usually located approximately fivecourses inwardly from the end of the nylon, there being other courses ofcotton knitted into the fabric outwardly of these five selvages coursesof nylon to facilitate han dling.

Continuing reference will now be made to the diagrammatic showing ofFIG. 2 for a description of a typical method of impaling loops on thepoints 12a to 12i inclusive of the looping dial which points have beenshown on a somewhat reduced scale as compared to the size of the loops(i.e. loops Zita) in order to more clearly disclose the invention.Normally however, it will be appreciated that the points (i.e. point12b) are tightly engaged by the loops (i.e. loop Zila); and that on eachone of the points there will be impaled a mating pair of loops, onebehind the other in that the superposed marginal portions S S of thestocking S are concurrently impaled on successive points. Only one ofthe superposed marginal portions S of the circular knitted fabric isshown in FIG. 2, although it is to be observed that both superposedmarginal portions S S are shown in FIG. 3, with the rear marginalportion S slightly offset to the left for the purposes of illustration.As seen in FIG. 2, there *has been an attempt to impale the loops a to2% along the looping course 20 on the points 12b to 12: or" thedial-type looping machine. The condition shown in FIG. 2 may beconsidered to be illustrative of that which may be encountered with afairly skilled operator using a reasonable measure of skill to impalethe successive loops on the points. This illustrative condition istypical of what will occur in the less than perfect loop impalement andcan be tolerated in accordance with apparatus aspects of the invention.However, it is to be noted that the operator cannot completely disregardthe necessity of attempting to attain point by point impalement. If theoperator takes reasonable precaution in stretching the fabric as theimpalement is achieved to avoid the situation where a whole group ofloops are forced between adjacent points, the impalement will besufliciently accurate to achieve a useful end product in accordance withthe invention. In this typical, but nonetheless illustrative example,the loop 20c along the looping course was not impaled on the point 12dof the dial 10 of the looping machine; and similarly, the loops 26g, 2thwere not impaled on the points 12h, 12L Normally, and in the absence ofthe positive barrier provided in accordance with the present invention,there would be a run along the wale 28 where the loop Ziic was notimpaled upon the point 12d and further runs along the wales containingloops 20g, 20 h.

In accordance with the present invention, a barrierinserting station 46is provided at a first circumferential location at which a barrierthread 32 is introduced to join together the superposed margins S Salong a barrier course 22 at the side of the looping course 20 remotefrom the rough edges and the several selvage courses 16, 18. The barrierthread 32 also is looped about the successive points 12a to 12f of thedial it} of the looping machine. The barrier 32 is introduced by meansof a curved needle, to be described, which penetrates the stocking Salong the barrier course 22 (one course below the line of impalement orlooping course 26)) and is dropped over the points 12. The barrierthread 32 penetrates the stocking or other knit fabric at least twotimes for each loop along the looping course 20. In that the barrierthread 32 penetrates the knitted fabric below the points 1211 to 121',it must of necessity lock a missed loop (i.e. loops 20c, Zt'lg, 2th)from running below the level of the barrier course 22 which isimmediately contiguous to the looping course 20. Any missed loops alongsuc cessive longitudinally extending Wales (i.e. wale 28) have thebarrier thread 32 running through the same. The barrier thread is loopedaround the points and accordingly is locked along the looping course 20by the looping chain 34 which is stitched in along the looping course2i) at a loop-chaining station 46, as is generally understood and aswill subsequently be described in conjunction with FIG. 3. The barrierthread 32 traverses the point by pairs (i.e. points 12a, 12b as a firstpair, points 1212, as a second pair, etc.). There is suflicient slack inthe barrier thread after removal from the points such that excellenthinging of the superposed marginal portions or sections S S may berealized when the stocking or tubular knitted fabric is removed from thepoints and allowed to be restored to .a flattened condition wherein thesuperposed margins are substantially coplanar in the region of the lineof joinder.

A typical course for the barrier thread 32 in relation to several points12a to 120 and several loops 20a to 2% will now be described in detailto further facilitate an understanding of its function and purpose.Specifically, the barrier thread 32 (insofar as the loop 22a along thebarrier course 22 is concerned) penetrates the loop 22a inwardly of theleft leg thereof and includes a first pns or segment 32a which passesupwardly and to the left about the point 12a. The thread 32 then has afurther pass or segment 32b which passes from the point 12a to the point12b in the next adjacent loop 2% along the looping course 20. Thebarrier thread then has a pass or segment 320 which passes downwardlyand over the bight of the loops 22a, re-enters the loop 22a, and iswrapped around the right leg thereof. The barrier thread 32 after itpasses around the right leg of the loop 22a includes a further pass orsegment 32d which passes upwardly towards the point 12a, in the samegeneral direction as the pass 32a, and about the point 12a. The barrierthread 32 then has a segment 32a which passes from the points 12a aboutthe point 1212 along a path substantially coextensive with the segment32!). After passing about the point 12b, the barrier thread includes apass or segment 32 which crosses the interstice between the loops Zita,Zilb along the looping course 21) and crosses the interstice between theloops 22a, 22b where it is wrapped about the left leg of the nextadjacent loop 22b along the barrier course 22. This completes thetraverse of the barrier thread 32 in relation to the first pair ofpoints 12a, 12b and thereupon the barrier thread provides two similarturns in relation to the points 1212, 12c and the corresponding fabricloops. In this fashion, the continuous barrier thread 32 is worked intosuccessive loops 22a, 22h along the barrier course 22 and is impaledover the successive points 12a, 12:, with two passes or turns of thebarrier thread over each pair of the points as described.

The dial 12 slowly rotates to remove the impaled stockings from thelocation or station 40 where the automatic mechanisms are {provided toengage the barrier thread 32, as will be described. "thereupon, thesuperposed marginal portions S S of the stocking S with the barrierthread 32 engaged move on to a second circumferential location orselvage-trimming station 42 Where, preliminary to forming the loopingchain 34 along the looping course Zil, the selvage portions outwardly ofthe looping course 20 are removed. The cutting away of such selvageportion is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2 by the cutting line L,it being appreciated that the selvage rows 16, 18 are present at thelocation or station it where the barrier thread is engaged, althoughthis impression may not be derived from the illustrative anddiagrammatic showing of FIG. 2. If it be considered that the knittedfabric is moving from right to left in FIG. 2 and that the barrierthread 32 is engaged at a location or station somewhat to the right sideof FIG. 2, the removal of the selvage courses 16, 18 at theselvage-trimming station 42 will be better understood.

After the selvage courses are removed by cutting along the line L acrossthe legs of the loops along the selvage course 18, the cut portions ofthe loops which remain between the impaled loops on the points arebrushed away, at a third circumferential location or brushing station44, leaving the fabric loops along the looping course 20 impaled uponthe points, and of course, the associated barrier thread loops. Forexample, it will be appreciated that when the loops 18a, 13 are cutacross, a part of the right leg of the loop 181a and the left leg of theloop 18] and the interconnecting portion thereof will be still engagedbetween the loops Ziie, 20f impaled respectively on the points 12 12g.It is such uncut loops that are brushed away at the brushing station 44after cutting away of the selvage portions.

At the loop-chaining station 46 of the machine, the looping chain 34 isengaged along the looping course 20 to connect together the successivesuperposed loops and lock the turns of the barrier thread 32 along thelooping course 20. The barrier thread 32 and the further stitching 34together hingedly interconnect the loops along the looping course 2%.The chained loop 34 includes a looper thread 36 and a needle or lockingthread 38 which are interlocked by stitching mechanisms, as disclosed indetail in the aforesaid patents. When the confronting or aligned pairsof mating loops are impaled upon the points as shown in FIG. 3 at thefirst, second and fourth pairs of loops, the interlocking looper andneedle thread 36, 38 hingedly interconnect such pairs of mating loopsand at the same time lock the several turns of the barrier thread 32together along the same course or line. When however, a pair of matingor registering loops are not impaled upon the points, as shown for thethird pair of loops in FIG. 3, the looper and needle threads 36, 38 ofthe looping chain 34 will only lock the adjacent turns of the barrierthread 32 along the looping or impaling line. However, for such missedpair of fabric loops, the barrier thread 32 is wrapped around theopposite legs of the loop along the barrier course 22 in the very samelongitudinal Wale 28 and will be eifective to block the running of thechain of loops and the creation of the corresponding imperfection in thestocking. Effectively the interconnected looper and needle threads 36,38 at each pair of registering fabric loops provides individual hingesflexibly interconnecting such loops. When the superposed marginalportions S S are brought into substantially coplanar relation, theopposite half sections of the looping course 29 will provide arelatively fiat, bulkless line of joinder in which the loops are wellarticulated with respect to each other. For all intents and purposes,the fabric at the line of joinder will assume the character of a singleknitted fabric joined together, loop by loop, in a neat and precisemanner, with missed loops being blocked against running by the barrierthread 32.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 12 inclusive, there is shown alooping machine which is of a conventional and commercially availabletype and includes the rotatable dial or disc having the plurality ofspaced dial points 12 upon which are impaled successive pairs of loopsof the doubled or superposed marginal portions S S of a length oftubular knit fabric, such as the seamless stocking S. The features ofthe machine will be described insofar as necessary for an understandingof the present invention and a typical operating environment therefor.For a detailed description of typical machines which may be modified andemployed in accordance with the present invention, reference may be madeto US. Patent Nos. 1,725,819 and 1,725,825 of August 27, 1929, and US.Patent No. 2,871,806 of February 3, 1959.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 8 inclusive, the loopingmachine is seen to include a base is which is provided with a mountingarm or casting which extends radially and inwardly of the rotatable dialit? and terminates at its inner end in a mounting head 52 disposedaxially of and above the rotatable dial 1!). The mounting head 52carries a depending mounting stud 54 (see FIGS. 5 and 8) upon which ismounted a vertically adjustable mounting sleeve 56 which carries at itslower end a horizontally extending stationary bed plate 58 upon whichthe dial it? is rotatably mounted in any appropriate fashion. Themounting sleeve 56 for the bed plate 53 may be fixed in various adjustedpositions relatively to the mounting stud by one or more mounting bolts60. The dial 119 is rotated about the stationary bed plate 58 from themachine drive, to be described, in any convenient fashion such that thepoints 12 of the dial 10 advance in succession through thebarrier-inserting station 40, the selvage-cutting station 42, the cutloop-brushing station 44, and the loop chaining station 46.

The drive for the mechanisms at the several stations 40, 42, 44 and 46and for the rotatabledial 10 is derived from a main drive shaft 62 whichis journalled in the casting 50 of the base 48 at a location outwardlyof the dial 10 and coupled to any appropriate drive source, such as anelectric motor (not shown). The main drive shaft 62 is coupled to anauxiliary drive shaft 64 by appropriate gearing, with the auxiliarydrive shaft 64 being likewise journalled on the casting 48 of themachine. As will be described, the main drive shaft 62 provides thenecessary drive to the mechanisms at the selvage-cutting station 42,while the auxiliary drive shaft 64, which is geared to rotate at twicethe speed of the main drive shaft 62, provides the drive to themechanisms at the barrierinserting station 49 and the cut loop-brushingstation 44.

Preliminary to a detailed description of the mechanisms at thebarrier-inserting station 40 which are constructed in accordance withthe present invention, the conventional mechanisms at theselvage-trimming station 42 and at the cut loop-brushing station 44 willbe described, it being appreciated that these mechanisms are subject toa latitude of change and variation. Specifically, at the selvagecuttingstation 422 (seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5) there is provided a knife-shaftmounting bracket 68 which is fixed to the stationary bed plate 58 andprojects rearwardly thereof to provide a support for an upstandingstationary knife-mounting shaft 78. The knife-mounting shaft 70 carriesa double-armed knife-mounting lever 72 which includes a driver arm 7 2aand a driven arm 72]). The driver arm 72a projects radially and inwardlyof the rotatable dial it) and is coupled to the main drive shaft 62 by acoupling rod 74. The end of the coupling rod 74 adjacent the main shaft62 is connected to a knife-driving eccentric '76 on the main drive shaft62 by a universal joint or connection 78, while the opposite end of thecoupling rod 74 is connected by a universal joint or connection to thedriver arm 72:: of the lever 72. The driven arm 72b of the double-armlever 72 extends downwardly (see FIG. 5) and carries a mounting block 82on which there is adjustably mounted a movable cutter blade or knife 84.Cooperating with the movable cutter knife 84 is a stationary knife 86which is mounted in a fixed position relative to the rotatable dial it).In response to the rotation of the main drive shaft 76 and thereciprocation of the coupling rod 74, it will be appreciated that arocking motion is imparted to the mounting block 82 and to the movableknife 84. By proper adjustment of the position of the movable knife 84in relation to the stationary knife 86 and to the dial points 12,selvage portions of the circular knit fabric will be cut away, as isillustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2 by the cutting line L.

he mechanisms at the cut loop-brushing station 44, which are effectiveto brush away those out loops which are not carried away by severing ofthe selvage portions, include a brush-mounting bracket 88 (see FIG. 4)which is mounted on the stationary bed plate 58. The brushmountingbracket 83 projects at an angle with respect to the knife-shaft mountingbracket 68 and terminates at its outer end in a bearing 90 in which isjournalled a brush shaft 92. The brush shaft 92 extends substantiallychordwise of the rotatable dial it) to appropriately position a brush 94thereon for contact with the cut loops which are to be removed from theimpaled looping course as the knitted fabric passes therebeneath.Rocking motion is imparted to the brush shaft 92 from the auxiliarydrive shaft 64 by a coupling rod 96 which is connected at one end by auniversal joint or connection 18 to a brush-driving eccentric 189 andcoupled at its other end via a pin 18?. to a rocker arm 104 which isfixed or otherwise secured to the end of the brush shaft 532 remote fromthe brush 94 (see FIG. 4).

In accordance with the present invention, the barrierinserting station45 is provided at a circumferential location in advance of theselvage-trimming station 42 and following the location at which theoperator manually impales the circular knit fabric onto the points 12 ofthe rotatable dial 151. The barrier-inserting station 41) in cludes avertically-extending needle bar 106 which is disposed radially outwardlyof the rotatable dial below the path of traverse of the successive dialpoints 12. The needle bar 1% is mounted for oscillation about itsvertical axis on a bearing 1138 which is supported at the end of anupper needle-mounting bracket 111) which is fixed to the under-surfaceof the stationary bed plate 58 in any appropriate fashion and extendsgenerally radially thereof (see FIG. 6). The needle bar 166 includes adepending integral extension 1860 (see FIG. 7) which projects through abearing 112 on a lower needle-mounting bracket 111 and permits verticaladjustment of the needle bar 106. At its upper end, the needle bar 1116carries a needle 114 including a vertical stern 114a and an upwardlycurved needle body 114!) terminating in a needle point 114C and having aneedle eye 114d contiguous thereto. The needle body 114]) is providedwith a thread channel 114:: on the exterior curved portion thereof.

Provision is made for rocking the needle bar 166 and needle stem 114aabout their coincident vertical axes in timed relation to the operationof the further mechanisms at this station, as will be subsequentlydescribed. The rocking motion for the needle bar 1116 is derived fromthe auxiliary drive shaft 64 by an appropriate coupling arrangementwhich includes a vertically-extending station drive shaft 116 which isjournalled on an auxiliary housing 117 fixed to the stationary bed plate58 (see FIG. 8). The drive shaft 116 is coupled intermediate its ends tothe auxiliary drive shaft 64 by a coupling rod 118 which carries ahelical gear (not shown) in engagement with a helical gear (not shown)on the auxiliary drive shaft 64 at the end removed from the stationdrive shaft 116. At its other end, the coupling rod 118 carries afurther helical gear 122 which is in meshing engagement with a helicalgear 124 on the station drive shaft 116. At its lower end, the stationshaft 116 carries a needle-driving cam 126 formed with a radiallyextending slot or guideway which receives a radially adjustable driveblock 128 secured to the needle-driving cam 126, as by bolts 13% or thelike. The assembly of the needle-driving cam 126 and the drive block 128provide an adjustable stroke or throw eccentric on the lower end of thestation drive shaft 116 to which is connected a needle-coupling link orrod 132. As seen best in FIGS. 6 and 8, the needle-coupling rod 132extends in a horizontal plane between the upper and lowerneedle-mounting brackets 11%, 112 and has its inner end secured to thedrive block 128 by a pin 134. The other end of the needle-coupling rod132 is connected by a pin 136 and spacer Washer 138 to a rocker arm 141)which is operatively connected to a needle drive gear 142 disposedbetween the upper and lower needle mounting brackets 11%), 111 (see FIG.7). The needle drive gear 142 is connected to a stud shaft 144 which isjournalled in appropriate bearings on the upper and lower needlemountingbrackets 11%, 111 and is in meshing engagement with a needle driven gear146 which is operatively connected to the extension 1660 of the needlebar 196.

Accordingly, in response to rotation of the auxiliary drive shaft 64 androtary motion of the station drive shaft 116, the eccentric drive 126,128, 134 is operative via the needle-coupling rod 132 and the rocker armto impart a rocking motion to the needle bar 106 and a correspondingmovement of the needle 114 through its forward and return strokes in thebarrier-inserting cycle.

The barrier thread 32 is delivered to the needle eye 114d from anappropriate source via a thread-tensioning device 148 (see FIG. 5) whichis mounted on the overhanging arm 51) of the machine base or frame 48 bya mounting or supporting bracket 15th The barrier thread passes from thethread-tensioning device 148 downwardly through a guiding eyelet 152(see FIG. 8) in the bed plate 58. Mounted below the bed plate 58 on amounting bracket 154 is a U-shaped thread guide member 156 which carriesbetween the opposed legs thereof a threadtensioning spring 158. Thethread-tensioning spring 158 terminates in a hooked end 158a which islocated between upper and lower thread-guiding eyelets 160, 162 on theopposed legs of the U-shaped thread guide member 156 and provides afurther control over the tension on the barrier thread 32. After passingthrough the lower eyelet 16-2, the barrier thread 32 passes through aguide 164 on the lower needle mounting bracket 111 and through a furthereyelet 166 on a mounting block 168 which is fixed to the outer end ofthe upper needle mounting bracket 110 (see FIG. 8). The mounting block168 supports a verticallyextending thread guide 176 which includes avertical stem 170a supported on the mounting block 168 for verticaladjustment and a curved tongue 17% which terminates at its upper end ina guide eye 1780 through which the barnier thread 32 passes to the eye114d of the needle 114. The rearward or inner surface of the curvedtongue 17% of the thread guide 170 is of concave cross-section toprovide a shallow guideway or groove along which the barrier thread 32moves the needle guide eye 1700.

Disposed adjacent to the needle 114 is a thread lifter 172 whichincludes a lifter stern 172a and a lifter body 17%. As seen best inFIGS. 9 through 12 inclusive, the lifter body 17% is of generally ovalconfiguration and is formed along one surface thereof with a camrmingsurface or nose 1720 and at the opposite surface thereof with athread-engaging notch 172d (see FIG. 13). Means are operativelyconnected to the lifter stem 172a to mount the lifter body 1721) forrocking movement about a lifterrocking axis extending angularly of theneedle-rocking axis such that the lifter body 1721) may be advancedinwardly toward and between successive dial points 12. As will besubsequently described in detail, the lifter body 17% engages thebarrier thread 32 in a pick-up position in relation to the needle 114for impaling the barrier thread 32 over at least successive pairs ofdial points 12. The lifter stem 172a extends substantially chordwise ofthe rotary dial it at an obtuse angle with respect to the stem 11% ofthe needle 114 and is slightly tilted downwardly from the horizontaltoward the lifter body 172b, as seen best in FIGS. 5 and 7. The lifterstem 172a is mounted for rocking motion about the lifter-rocking axis byan appropriate bearing in a gear box 174 which is fixed via an arm 176to an intermediate guide plate 178 which extends from a location inadvance of the selvagetm'mrning station 42 about the periphery orcircumference of the rotary dial is (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The lifter body17% is designed to enter between the dial points 12 in a verticalposition at one end of its movement and to extend at an angle ofapproximately 60 at the other end of its movement to facilitate threadpickup.

The thread lifter 172 is rocked about the axis of the stern 172a intimed relation to rocking of the needle 114 by an appropriate drivingconnection to the station drive shaft 116. Specifically, and as seenbest in PEG. 8, the upper end of the station drive shaft 116 is providedwith a lifter-driving cam 179 which is transversely slotted and carriesan adjustable drive block 180 which is fixed in various adjustedpositions as by machine bolts 182. The drive block 180 is connected viaan eccentrically disposed pin 183 to a coupling rod 184 which in turn isconnected via a universal joint 186 to a rocker arm 188 operativelyconnected to 'a lifter drive gear 199 journalled on a gear shaft 192within the gear housing 174. The drive gear 190 is in meshing engagementwith a. lifter driven gear 194 which is operatively connected to themounting stem or shaft 172a of the thread lifter 172. Accordingly, inresponse to rotation of the station drive shaft 116, the coupling rod184 is reciprocated and via the meshing gears 19!), 194 a rocking motionis imparted to the thread lifter 174 in timed relation to the rocking ofthe needle 114.

Provision is made in advance of the barrier-inserting station 40 andabove and below the dial 1% for guiding the circular knitted fabric intoa radially adjusted position on the dial points 12 after manual loadingthereon to properly orient the same for the introduction of the barrierthread 32 along the looping course by the coacting needle 114, threadguide 170, and the thread lifter 172. In this illustrative embodiment,and as seen best in FIGS. 4 and 7, an adjustable guide-mounting bracket196 is secured to the bed plate 58 and carries an outwardly projectingmounting arm 198. Adjacent its outer end, the mounting arm 193 carries astationary front fabric guide 200 which extends horizontally at alocation above the plane of the movable dial points 12. The inner sideof the stationary front fabric guide 260 is formed with a guidingsurface Ztitia which is on a curvature approximately corresponding tothat of the rotary dial it and is radially disposed in relation to thedial points 12 to provide a reference surface against which the circularknit fabric (i.e. stocking) is to be oriented preliminary to passinginto the barrier-inserting station or location 40. Disposed inwardly andrearward'ly of the stationary front fabric guide 200 is a movable rearfabric guide 202 which has a curved guiding surface iii-2a confrontingthe curved guiding surface Ztifla of the stationary front fabric guide200. The movable rear fabric guide 202 is mounted at its end closest tothe barrier-inserting station 4d for rocking motion in a horizontalplane and about a vertical axis toward and away from the stationaryfront fabric guide 2%. In this illustrative embodiment, the mounting arm198 carries a laterally projecting auxiliary mounting arm 204 on whichis journalled a vertically extending guide shaft 206 which mounts themovable rear guide 202 for rocking movement. Fixed to and projectingfrom the rear guide shaft 206 is a rocker arm 208 which may bereciprocated in any appropriate fashion and through an adjustable strokesuch as to impart the necessary motion to the movable rear guide 292 forcontinuously orienting the circular knit fabric against the reference orguiding surface 200a. In this illustrative embodiment, and as seen bestin FIG. 4, the coupling shaft 118 carries an eccentric 210 which has apin 212 coupled via a universal joint 214 and a coupling rod 216 to afurther universal joint 2:18 on the rocker arm 2%. Accordingly, inresponse to rotary movement of the shaft 118 and the correspondingmovement of the eccentric 210 and the eccentrio pin 212, rocking motionis imparted via the coupling rod 216 to the rocker arm 208 and to therear fabric guide 202.

(Further fabric guides are provided at the underside of the rotary dialand along the circumferential course traversed by successive dial points12 which further fabric guides cooperate with the guides 20%, 262 inorienting the circular knit fabric preliminary to advancing into thebarrier-inserting station 4t As seen in FIG. 5, the guides at theunderside of the dial points '12 include a stationary curved bottom rearguide 22% which is disposed to project upwardly toward and terminatebelow the level of the dial points 12. The curved bottom rear guide 226is mounted in any appropriate fashion. For example and as shown in FIG.6, the needle-mounting bracket 111 may be provided with a furthermounting bracket 222 which projects radially and outwardly of the rotarydial 1t and carries the upwardly directed stationary curved rear guide22% The guide segment 22% of the guide 229 is along a curvaturecorresponding approximately to that of the reference or guiding surface200a of the stationary top front fabric guide 2%, but at a locationslightly radially inwardly thereof in an amount sufiioient to permit thecircular knit fabric to travel along a well defined course toward thebarrier-inserting station 40, with the blade or movable guide 202 beingeffective to continuously orient the circular knit fabric along suchcourse.

The guiding arrangement at the underside further includes a pair ofbottom front and rear guide fingers 224 (see FIG. 7) which areadjustably mounted on appropriate mounting blocks 226 secured to theundersurface of the stationary top front fabric guide 2%. The guidefingers 224 terminate in somewhat hooked guide segments 224a which maybe oriented in relation to the fabric, the thread guiding tongue 17%,the dial points 12, and the cooperating needle 1'14 and thread lifter172 to assure perfect orientation of the work as it advances to thebarrier-inserting location. It will be appreciated that a high order ofaccuracy is required in the guiding of the circular knit fabric to theWork location because of the exceptionally small size of the loopsthrough and about which the barrier thread 32 must be engaged by thecomparably small needle 114 and associated parts.

Disposed in the same vertical plane as the front guide finger 224, is aresilient gating or hold down finger 230. The finger 230' is arranged inrelation to the hook 2240: of the guide finger 224 to provide a guidewaythrough which the curved body 11412 of the needle 114 penetrates duringoperation of the machine, as will subsequently be described. Thecooperating fingers 224, 23% orient the fabric in relation to the points12 and preclude outward radial movement of the fabric and consequentescape of the loops from the points, it being appreciated that thefabric is urged against the fingers 224, 230 by the movable rear guide202.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the presentinvention, progressive reference Will be made to the diagrammatic andperspective showings of FIGS. 9 to 13 inclusive for a typical sequenceof operations:

In these views, the fabric is not shown in the interest of clarity, andportions of the barrier thread 32 are likewise deleted. However, itshould be understood that the barrier thread emanates from the supplysource through the thread guide 176 at one end and is engaged about thepoints 12 and through the fabric at its opposite end in previous loopinserting cycles.

Referring first to MG. 9, the needle 114 which reciproc ates about thevertical needle axis defined by the stem or shank 114a of the needle, isshown in its position of maximum penetration in relation to the fabric,with the point 1140 being disposed approximately at its foremostlocation in the cyclic movement of the needle body 11%. In thisposition, the segment of the thread 32 which emerges from the fabric atthe previously formed barrier loop and terminates at the needle eye114b, provides a chordwise segment of barrier thread in position forpickup by the thread lifter 172 in the next loop-forming cycle. By wayof review, and by reference to FIG. 2, it will be recalled that as webbarrier loop is formed, the barrier thread is wrapped about one leg ofthe superposed loops along the looping course and is effectively trappedin the fabric (see, for example, the loops of the barrier thread wrappedabout the legs 22b, 22c, 22rd, etc., in FIG. 2). The thread lifter 172is illustrated in FIG. 9 at the start of a lifting stroke or cycle, withthe notch 172d in the lifter body 172% just beginning to engage thechordwise segment of the barrier thread for lifting and dropoff inresponse to turning movement of the thread lifter 172, about the lifteraxis defined by the shank 172a.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the point 114c of the needle 114, has begun toretract from the maximum penetration position illustrated in FIG. 9 andthe thread lifter 172 has turned in the direction of the arrow to engagethe chordwise segment of the barrier thread 32 in the notch 172d. Thethread has been drawn into a substantially triangular configurationextending generally in a horizontal plane, with the apex of the trianglewrapped about the lifter body 1721) through the notch 172d beingadvanced toward a dropoff location relative to the dial points 12.Considering the relative position of the barrier thread 32 with respectto the dial points 12 in the progressive showings of FIGS. 9 and 10, itshould be observed that the needle 114 advances along successivefabric-penetrating strokes below the plane of the points and the lifterbody 172k also picks up the chordwise segment of the barrier thread at alocation below the dial points 12. This permits unobstructed advance ofthe fabric through the station 40 in timed relation to the operation ofthe needle 114 and the thread lifter 172. For the purpose of thisdescription, it may be assumed that the dial points 12 are stationary.However, the movement of the dial points 12 is at a rate to provide fortwo needle penetrations in each space between successive pairs ofpoints. Such needle penetrations occur in a relatively small space sincein a typical machine, there are approximately forty points 12 to theinch on the dial 10 which results in an interpoint spacing, from centerto center, of the order of eight thousandths (.008).

Referring now to FIG. 11, the relationship of the needle 114 and of thethread lifter 172 is shown at a time somewhat later in the loop-formingcycle, with the point 1140 of the needle 114- having been furtherretracted and the body 172b of the thread lifter 172 having been furtherrotated to a position wherein the barrier thread 32 is wrapped over thecarnming surface or nose 1720 of the lifter body 1721). In thiscondition, the lifter body 172b is effective to form the barrier thread3 2 into an upstanding loop for dropoif on to the adjacent point at theappropriate time in the machine cycle. Specifically, the portion of thebarrier thread extending through the notch 172d is now located at theunderside of the lifter body 1721'; and is disposed generally below thelevel of the points 12, while the portion of the thread wrapped aboutthe camnring surface or nose 1720 is at a location above the dial points12, approximately corresponding to the position illustrated in FIG. 13.Concurrently, the lifter body 17% has advanced into a positionintermediate an adjacent pair of dial points 12. Thus, the barrierthread is efiectively trapped and oriented in relation to the dialpoints to assure proper dropoif on to the dial points. It will beappreciated that substantially perfect dropoff is essential to theproper operation of the instant machine and the provision of acorresponding trapping loop along the looping course. It is alsonoteworthy to observe that the drawings are on a greatly exaggeratedscale for the purposes of illustration and that the criticalinterrelationship of the several parts and the dial points must beachieved within exceptionally small dimensional tolerances.

The contour of the nose or camming surface 1720 is such as to permit thethus confined loop to drop or snap off on to the adjacent point, withthe barrier thread being con-fined at the opposite ends of this loop bythe rearwardly moving needle and the fabric. The gating or holddownfinger 230 is arranged in relation to the dial points 12 and to thelifter body 17-2b to flex as the lifter body is advanced to the positionin which the barrier thread is dropped off on to the point; when thethus formed loop drops behind the hold-down finger 230 it is maintainedagainst radial outward displacement by the hold down finger as thelatter restores to its position of engagement with the underlying dialpoints.

Reference to FIG. 12 shows the barrier thread dropped on to at least apair of adjacent points just prior to movement into the locked positionon the dial points behind the holddown or gating finger 230, it beingappreciated that a portion of the lifter body 172 has been broken awayto reveal the position of the thread in relation to the 'dial points.Dropoff of the thread from. the camming surface or nose 1720 between theposition illustrated in FIG. 11 and the position illustrated in FIG. 12is aided by virtue of the fact that the needle 114 is retracting throughthe fabric and pulls the barrier thread off of the lifter body and on tothe dial points behind the gating finger 230.

After dr-opofi of the barrier thread on to at least one pair of points,the needle retracts to its rearward limit position at the back of thefabric and once against penetrates the fabric, either between the samepair of points, or between the next successive pair of points, dependingupon the relative position of the dial points 12 to the needle 114 andto the thread lifter 172. In the illustrative construction, thesuccessive penetrations of the needle occur at the opposite faces ofeach point, as shown in FIG. 13 and designated by the characters P P andP and P As shown in this figure, the two previous barrier insertioncycles 'or strokes occurred at the locations P and P the illustratedpenetration occurs at the opposite face of the dial point at thelocation P and the next successive penetration will occur in the sameinterspace, but adjacent the next point at the location P Penetrationsat the locations P and P will cause the barrier thread to be droppedover three dial points, while penetrations at the locations P and P willcause the barrier thread to drop over two points. This is not criticalin the machine, however it is preferred that each successive dial pointof the machine have at least two loops thereon to assure flexibilityalong the looping line and good interchaining between the opposed facesof the knitted fabric which are joined together along the looping line.

When the knitted fabric leaves the loop-forming sta tion 40, the fabricis advanced to the selvage-cutting station 42, wherein the selvagecourses outwardly of the looping course 2d are cut away, as indicateddiagrammatically in FIG. 2 by the cutting line L. Thereupon, the impaledsuperposed portions of the knitted fabric, with the selvage cut away,advance through the brushing station 44 wherein cut loops which are notremoved incident to the cutting operation are brushed away, leaving onlythose portions of the knitted fabric which are ultimately hingedtogether in the chain-forming station 46. Since the mechanisms at thislatter station are conventional and are disclosed and described innumerous prior art patents, including those hereinbefore referred to, adescription of these conventional mechanisms wiil be dispensed with inthe interests of brevity.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances sorne features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accord ingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. In a looping machine for hosiery having superposed looping courseswhich are to be hingedly interconnected and including a rotary dialhaving radially extending and circumferentially disposed dial pointsover which said looping courses are adapted to be impaled manually,means mounting said rotary dial for rotary movement about a verticallyextending dial axis, means at a first circumferential location forcutting the selvage of said hosiery above said looping course which isimpaled on said dial points, and a drive for rotating said dial and foroperating the means at said first location, the improvement comprisingstitching mechanisms in advance of said first circumferential locationfor introducing a barrier thread along at least said superposed loopingcourses, said stitching mechanisms including a needle having a stem anda curved body terminating in a needle point, means operatively connectedto said stem and mounting said needle body for rocking movement about aneedle-rocking axis to advance said needle point along a penetratingstroke disposed in relation to successive dial points to advance saidbarrier thread through said hosiery and into a pickup position outwardlythereof, a thread lifter having a lifter stem and a lifter body, meansoperatively connected to said lifter stern and mounting said lifter bodyfor rocking movement about a lifter rocking axis extending angularly ofsaid needle-rocking axis to advance said lifter body inwardly toward andbetween successive dial points, said lifter body engaging said barrierthread in said pick-up position for impaling said barrier thread oversaid dial points, and respective actuating means controlled from saiddrive for rocking said needle and said thread lifter in timed relationto each other and to the rotation of said dial.

2. In a looping machine according to claim 1, said lifter body having anotch on the leading edge thereof which engages said barrier thread insaid pickup position and a camming surface on the trailing edge thereofwhich rises above the level of said dial points as said lifter bodyadvances toward and between said dial points for dropping said barrierthread over at least successive pairs of dial points.

3. In a looping machine for hosiery having superposed looping courseswhich are to be hingedly interconnected and including a rotary dialhaving radially extending and circumferentially disposed dial pointsover which said looping courses are adapted to be impaled manually,

eans mounting said rotary dial for rotary movement about a verticallyextending dial axis, means at a first circumferential location forcutting the selvage of said hosiery above said looping course which isimpaled on said dial points, means at a second circumferential locationfollowing said first location for brushing away said selvage, and adrive for rotating said dial and for operating the respective means atsaid first and second locations, the improvement comprising stitchingmechanisms for introducing a barrier thread along at least saidsuperposed looping courses and at further courses therebelow, saidstitching mechanisms including a needle having a vertical stern and anupwardly curved body terminating in a needle point, means operativelyconnected to said vertical stem and mounting said needle body forrocking movement about a vertical needle-rocking axis to advance saidneedle point along an upwardly and outwardly extending penetratingstroke, said penetrating stroke being disposed in relation to successivedial points to advance said barrier thread outwardly along successivedial points, through said hosiery and into a pickup position outwardlythereof wherein a segment of said barrier thread extends chordwise ofsaid needle body, a thread lifter having a litter stem and a lifterbody, means operatively connected to said lifter stern and mounting saidlifter body for rocking movement about a lifter-rocking axis extendingangularly of said needle-rocking axis to advance said lifter bodyinwardly toward and between successive dial points, said lifter bodyengaging said barrier thread in said pick-up position for impaling saidbarrier thread over at least successive pairs of dial points, andrespective actuating means controlled from said drive for rocking saidneedle and said thread lifter in timed relation to each other and to therotation of said dial.

4. In a looping machine according to claim 3, said lifter body having anotch on the leading edge thereof which engages said barrier thread insaid pickup position and a camming surface on the trailing edge thereofwhich rises above the level of said dial points as said lifter bodyadvances toward and between said dial points for drop- 16 ping saidbarrier thread over at least successive pairs of dial points.

5. In a looping machine for hosiery having superposed looping courseswhich are to be hingedly interconnected and including a rotary dialhaving dial points over which a looping course is adapted to be impaledmanually, means mounting said rotary dial for rotary movement about adial axis, means at a first circumferential location for cutting theselvage of said hosiery above said looping course which is impaled onsaid dial points, and a drive for rotating said dial and for operatingthe means at said first location, the improvement comprising stitchingmechanisms in advance of said first circumferential location forintroducing a barrier thread along at least said superposed loopingcourses, said stitching mechanisms including a needle terminating in aneedle point, means operatively connected to and mounting said needlefor rocking movement about a needle-rocking axis to advance said needlepoint along a penetrating stroke disposed in relation to successive dialpoints to advance said barrier thread through said hosiery and into apickup position outwardly thereof, a thread lifter, means operativelyconnected to and mounting said lifter for rocking movement about alifter-rocking axis extending angularly of said needle-rocking axis toadvance said lifter inwardly toward and between successive dial points,said lifter engaging said barrier thread in said pick-up position forimpaling said barrier thread over said dial points, and respectiveactuating means controlled from said drive for rocking said needle andsaid lifter in timed relation to each other and to the rotation of saiddial.

6. In a looping machine for hosiery having superposed looping courseswhich are to be hingedly interconnected and including a rotary dialhaving circumferentially displaced dial points over which a loopingcourse is adapted to be impaled manually, means mounting said rotarydial for rotary movement about a dial axis, means at a firstcircumferential location for cutting the selvage of said hosiery abovesaid looping course which is impaled on said dial points, means at asecond circumferential location following said first location forbrushing away said selvage, and a drive for rotating said dial and foroperating the respective means at said first and second locations, theimprovement comprising stitching mechanisms for introducing a barrierthread along at least said superposed looping courses and at furthercourses therebelow, said stitching mechanisms including a needle andmeans operatively connected to and mounting said needle for movement toadvance said needle point along an upwardly and outwardly extendingpenetrating stroke, said penetrating stroke being disposed in relationto successive dial points to advance said barrier thread outwardly alongsuccessive dial points, through said hosiery and into a pickup positionoutwardly thereof wherein a segment of said barrier thread extendschordwise of said needle body, a thread lifter, means operativelyconnected to said lifter and mounting said lifter for movement toadvance said lifter inwardly toward and between successive dial points,said lifter engaging said 'barrier'thread in said pickup position forimpaling said barrier thread over at least successive pairs of dialpoints, and respective actuating means for rocking said needle and saidthread lifter in timed relation to each other and to the rotation ofsaid dial.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A LOOPING MACHINE FOR HOSIERY HAVING SUPERPOSED LOOPING COURSESWHICH ARE TO BE HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED AND INCLUDING A ROTARY DIALHAVING RADIALLY EXTENDING AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED DIAL POINTSOVER WHICH SAID LOOPING COURSES ARE ADAPTED TO BE IMPALED MANUALLY,MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROTARY DIAL FOR ROTARY MOVEMENT ABOUT A VERTICALLYEXTENDING DIAL AXIS, MEANS AT A FIRST CIRCUMFERENTIAL LOCATION FORCUTTING THE SELVAGE OF SAID HOSIERY ABOVE SAID LOOPING COURSE WHICH ISIMPALED ON SAID DIAL POINTS, AND A DRIVE FOR ROTATING SAID DIAL AND FOROPERATING THE MEANS AT SAID FIRST LOCATION, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISINGSTITCHING MECHANISMS IN ADVANCE OF SAID FIRST CIRCUMFERENTIAL LOCATIONFOR INTRODUCING A BARRIER THREAD ALONG AT LEAST SAID SUPERPOSED LOOPINGCOURSES, SAID STITCHING MECHANISMS INCLUDING A NEEDLE POINT, MEANSOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID STEM AND MOUNTING SAID NEEDLE BODY FORROCKING MOVEMENT ABOUT A NEEDLE-ROCKING AXIS TO ADVANCE SAID NEEDLEPOINT ALONG A PENETRATING STROKE DISPOSED IN RELATION TO SUCCESSIVE DIALPOINTS TO ADVANCE SAID BARRIER THREAD THROUGH SAID HOSIERY AND INTO APICKUP POSITION OUTWARDLY THEREOF, A THREAD LIFTER HAVING A LIFTER STEMAND A LIFTER BODY, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LIFTER STEM ANDMOUNTING SAID LIFTER BODY FOR ROCKING MOVEMENT ABOUT A LIFTERROCKINGAXIS EXTENDING ANGULARLY OF SAID NEEDLE-ROCKING AXIS TO ADVANCE SAIDLIFTER BODY INWARDLY TOWARD AND BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE DIAL POINTS, SAIDLIFTER BODY ENGAGING SAID BARRIER THREAD IN SAID PICK-UP POSITION FORIMPALING SAID BARRIER THREAD OVER SAID DIAL POINTS, AND RESPECTIVEACTUATING MEANS CONTROLLED FROM SAID DRIVE FOR ROCKING SAID NEEDLE ANDSAID THREAD LIFTER IN TIMED RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE ROTATIONOF SAID DIAL.